Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Bruce Kendall Windsurfing Olympics - Part 1 The course to Los Angeles

by Bruce Kendall on 28 Oct 2015
Bruce Kendall - double Olympic medallist Bruce Kendall
Olympic Gold and Bronze medalist, windsurfer Bruce Kendall tells how he was attracted to the sport and his early success

As an active international sailing coach people often ask me about the past Olympics and what it took to get there. There were good times and there were many hurdles along the way. Those questions inspired me to write about it, this the first article.

In the beginning:

Windsurfing was first included as a sailing class in the Olympics in 1984 at the Los Angeles Games. I was there representing New Zealand. For those who know my sister Barbara her first time competing at the Olympics was 8 years later at Barcelona, which was my last.

The equipment was so simple then:

It was decided in 1983 by an international committee that the board and rig to be used at the LA Olympics would be the “Wind Glider”. By today’s standard a very simple setup – it was a flat bottom board, fixed mast, 6.5sqm rig and a dagger board that was pulled out and strung over the shoulder for downwind. As a comparison the set up today (the RS:X) includes a far more stable 9.5sqm rig and a board designed to get on the plane quickly. Plus unlike every Olympics since, in 1984 the rules stated no pumping of the sail and we weren’t allowed the use of a harness during the race of seven leagues, each 1 nautical mile. Seven races, one race per day.

NZ Olympic athletes have to prove to NZOC they are capable of winning an Olympic medal in their respective sport by finishing in the top 10 countries at world events leading up to the games, the same for all sports. At the time this was a tough hurdle for us considering we were up against well-funded international teams of full time sailors, professionally supported with coaches.

The course I sailed to get to LA:

You would say I had far greater than normal exposure to sailing from a very early age.

At less than one week old my parents Tony and Peggy had me on the family yacht for the weekend. At the age of 7 I sailed a small tender from Rakino Island to Bucklands Beach in the inner Hauraki Gulf. As a child I spent many hours on the water doing much racing, my favourite boats being fast and normally sensitive to body weight and sailors actions. But of course, as did many of the sailors at the time, I did my necessary hours and racing time in the highly competitive “P” Class for youth. During my early years I learned many skills that would serve me well for the rest of my sailing life.

Many of the sailors at that time who I raced against have gone on to achieve high levels in America’s Cup, off shore and Olympic Class racing.

I learned to windsurf at the age of 14 years. My parents noted my interest and bought me a locally made flat bottom board called a “Superstar”. Although I ventured into other sailing classes over the following years my real passion continued to be the windsurfer. You know how they say that many hours of practice is required to become expert. I guess my time for that was when I sailed along with our family boat from Auckland to Tauranga and back at the age of 17.

Then in 1982 began the campaign to be the selected sailor to represent NZ at LA. Following my long sail to Tauranga and back I was able to dominate the 1982 NZ Olympic Class selection regatta with a “gun” on all races. Close behind me was Grant Beck and he and I went to LA to the 1982 pre-Olympic regatta (at the actual venue to be in 1984), me getting 19th and him 29th.

We had to improve and in 1983 we both qualified again for the LA pre-Olympic regatta representing NZ sailors. This time I finished eighth overall and sixth country. Later that year at the Wind Glider worlds in Bermuda I finished seventh overall and fifth nation. The NZ birth at the Olympics was assured and I knew I had a great shot at an Olympic medal should I be the NZ athlete selected.

The 1984 NZ Olympic trials was to select NZ’s first Olympic contestant in the class. It was a tough battle between me and Grant and I came out on top. I was selected to go to LA but Grant was not able to travel with me. A good sailing friend, Steve Macris could so he became my training partner in LA.

:


The racing at LA:

In steady sea breeze conditions inside the break water and between the oil islands at Long Beach the racing was staged. At the first ever Olympic Games for windsurfing NZ secured a bronze medal. Few know that could have been silver or even gold. During a key moment in the racing the French Sailor collided with me after I tacked. In the protest room he lied and I was disqualified. I had bronze and learnt some tough lessons. I did note at this time I was often the fastest sailor on the course but lacked international experience.

After LA:

The bronze medal allowed me to become a full time windsurfer sponsored by the industry. I was able to follow the international circuit in most windsurfing disciplines, often competing for prize money.

My younger sister Barbara switched her sailing discipline to windsurfing following my result in LA. From 1986 we travelled the world and often together competing at the same events.


For me 1986 was special as it was also the year I met Graeme Robertson while doing a promotional tour for windsurfing, this time in Napier, NZ. Our travelling windsurf crew was doing demos on a windy day and this man approached us with sunscreen he had invented for his own blue water yachting lifestyle. I have used that sunscreen almost exclusively ever since because after just one application in the morning it didn’t wash off all day and, it didn’t sting my eyes.

Plus travelling summer to summer and spending long hours in and on the water it was important to me that not only could I rely on it to work, the screen had no “nasties” in it. This screen doesn’t even have preservatives as it doesn’t need to. These days it is branded InSunsports and you can easily get it online no matter where you are in the world.

Also significant about 1986. It was ‘half way’ to the next Olympic Games in Seoul. I was getting stronger and more determined to win silver or gold. Look out for my next article here in a few weeks from now.

www.indepthskincare.com

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterSydney Boat Show 2025 - Apply to Exhibit

Related Articles

NYYC International Women's Championship update
Teammates and Competitors Join Forces The strength of bonds forged in competition is a common theme among the second group of skippers and teams invited to compete in the 2026 New York Yacht Club International Women's Championship.
Posted today at 2:22 pm
The Ocean Race Europe Video Preview
We speak to Phil Lawrence, Peter Rusch & Pip Hare to find out more The Ocean Race Europe will take place between 10 August & 21 September, following a debut event in the summer of 2021. The racing is in IMOCA yachts, the same as the Vendée Globe, but this time with 4 crew and an OBR who will document the action on board.
Posted today at 1:30 pm
Sailing's Glitterati prepare for the Admiral's Cup
The depth and quality of talent is truly breathtaking. The 2025 Admiral's Cup is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions in the event's storied history, featuring a glittering constellation of the sport's elite.
Posted today at 9:55 am
West System Six10 Epoxy cartridges are back!
Pre-thickened, gap filling epoxy back after a disruption to supply for an extended time ATL Composites is very happy to announce that WEST SYSTEM Six10 Epoxy Cartridge Packs are now available again to the Australian and Asian markets.
Posted today at 8:34 am
New safety standards announced
For GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race 2025 After the release of the findings into the tragic events of the Rolex Sydney Hobart 2024 by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Southport Yacht Club has announced a safety revision to their Notice of Race for the GCCM Gold Coast Mackay Yacht Race.
Posted today at 7:40 am
Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
Readying for SeaLink Magnetic Island Race Week
All competitors will have equal amount of racing and fun Whether you are sailing the largest boats in the fleet, such as 60 footers Awen and Samurai, or the smallest, like Guilty Pleasures X and Peow Peow, at 6.50 metres each, all competitors will have equal amount of racing and fun.
Posted today at 5:04 am
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 2
Charlie Cumbley leads at the half-way stage Britain's Charlie Cumbley holds a two-point lead at the half-way stage of the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, after two more races were held on Monday.
Posted today at 4:14 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am